Sand-machine.



W. D. ASHMON.

SAND MACHINE.

APPLICATION men NOV. 7. 191a.

1,21%,QO6. Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

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W. D. ASHMON.

SAND MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED NOV-1,1916.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Warren srarns PATENT lemon WALTER D. ASHIVION, 0F SALEM, OREGON.

SAND-MACHINE.

Application filed November 7, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VALTER D. AsniMoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Marion and State 1 of Oregon, have invented new and useful removing drifted sand and other like material from railroad tracks in sandy districts, the object of the invention being to provide an improved machine of this kind which is simple in construction, is efficient in operation and by means of which sand or the like can be removed from the railroad tracks and deposited on either side of the track.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a track cleaning machine constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view, showing a fan. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on a plane near the center of the machine. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation partly in section, showing a modified construction of the machine in which three fans are employed.

In the embodiment of my inventiornl provide a casing 1, which is open on the lower side. On the ends of the casing l are circular fan casings 2. Said fan casings are provided with intakes 3 on their inner opposing sides, and which rise from the top of the casing 1. On the opposing sides of the fan casings are transversely L-shaped bars 4: which extend forwardly from the fan casings and which are adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the sides and bottom of a'railway car such as is indicated at A to thereby attach the track cleaning machine to the front end of the car and enable the machine to be moved along and above the track by the car, as will be understood. A pair of revoluble brushes 5 have their Sl'lfllftS mounted in bearings in the side walls of the casing, said brushes being arranged one under the front and the other under the rear side of the casing. The shafts 6 of the said revoluble brushes are provided at one end with pulleys 7 which are connected by an endless cross belt 8 to cause said brushes to revolve in reverse directions. The shaft Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3d, 191?.

Serial No. 130,100.

of the rear brush 5 is also provided at the opposite end with a pulley 9 which is connected by a belt 10 with a pulley 11 on the common shaft 12 of a pair of revoluble fans 13 which are arranged in the fan casings. The said fan shaft has a pulley 1d and is driven by a power belt 15, from the driving wheel 16 of a suitable motor 17 which may be of any suitable type and is here conventionally illustrated as an electric motor.

Each fan casing has an upwardly extendmg discharge pipe 20, said pipes being united at their upper ends by a union 21. The

union is provided at its lower end with a rev movable closure 22. A delivery pipe 23 is provided at its inner end with an elbow 24 which may be pivotally fitted in the upper end of the union to enable the delivery pipe to be swung to either side desired and hence enable the sand and earth to be discharged at either side of the track or into a car, as may be desired. The union also has an attaching bracket 25, which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the top of the car to which the track cleaning machine is attached.

In the operation of the machine, the revoluble brushes bear on and between the track rails, the brushes revolve in reverse directions, being driven together with the fans by the motor, the opposing sides of the brushes moving upwardly. The brushes serve to dislodge the drifted sand from the track and road bed and between the rails and to throw the same and the sand and scatter the same and the sand thus dislodged is caught by the intake draft of the fans and driven by the fans upwardly through the pipes 20, and which serves to deliver the sand on either side of the track or into the car as may be desired, and as hereinbefore stated. Only a motor of moderate power is required to operate the revoluble brushes and fans of the machine and hence the ma chine may be very inexpensively operated. To enable the power of the machine to be increased, I show, in Fig. 5, a third fan 18 which is driven by the shaft 12 and the casing 2 of which is connected by a discharge the several parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a track cleaning machine, a casing open in the under side, a pair of revoluble brushes mounted under the front and rear sides of the casing and for operation on and between the track rails, fan casings on the sides of the first named casing and each having an intake leading therefrom, a revoluble fan in each fan casing, a discharge pipe leading from each fan casing, a union to which the said discharge pipes are connected, and means to operate the brushes and the fans, the said brushes being arranged for rotation in reverse directions and so that their opposing sides move upwardly.

2. In a track cleaning machine, a casing open in the under side, a pair of revoluble brushes mounted under the front and rear sides of the casing and for operation onand between the track rails, fan casings on the sides of the first named casing and each having an intake leading therefrom, a revoluble fan in each "fan casing, a discharge pipe lead ing from each fan casing, a union to which the said discharge pipes are connected, and means to operate the brushes and the fans, the said brushes being arranged for rotation in reverse directions and so that their opposing sides move upwardly, and a delivery pipe pivotally mounted on and leading from the union.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. I

WALTER D. ASHMON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. 0. 

